Summary
The observation of a metastasizing fibrohistiocytic tumor in the face of a 76-year-old female patient demonstrates the problem of differential diagnosis between atypical fibroxanthoma and malignant fibrous histocytoma. Differentiation by clinical criteria, especially by localization in a specific layer, can not be made because of the possibility of a primary dermal seat of the malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Similarly, no definite differentiating histopathologic characteristics are exhibited by either condition. Both tumors are essentially characterized by a cellular dimorphism, consisting of spindleshaped, fibroblast-like elements on the one hand and histiocyte-like cells on the other. From additional morphologic parameters (pattern analysis), such as not clearly demarcated borders and asymmetric and deep infiltrative growth, ulceration and necrosis malignancy can be inferred, indicating that the tumor we observed was a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. It is suggested that this designation be used for the metastasizing atypical fibroxanthoma. Through this differentiation, the term atypical fibroxanthoma retains the connotation of a rather benign tumor.
The great histomorphologic variability of fibrohistiocytic proliferations results in a wide spectrum of differential diagnoses, according to the respective differentiation of the cells. When the fibromatous spindle-cell-like componnent predominates, the semi-malignant dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans must be considered in the differential diagnosis, as well as the cytologically uniform fibrosarcoma, to be disposed in ‘herringbone’ patterns of the tumor cells and the Kaposi sarcoma with spindle-cell differentiation. The latter is distinguishable through its angiomatous character. The spindle-cell carcinoma, an especially undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma imitating the structure of a sarcoma, and the malignant melanoma of the spindle-cell type may be delineated from the atypical fibroxanthoma by observing the dermo-epidermal junction. In the case of undifferentiated liposarcomas and the malignant giant-cell tumor of soft parts, specific cellular elements permit histogenetic conclusions.
Zusammenfassung
Anhand der Beobachtung eines metastasierenden fibrohistiocytären Tumors im Gesicht einer 76jährigen Patientin wird die differentialdiagnostische Problematik zwischen atypischem Fibroxanthom und malignem fibrösen Histiocytom dargestellt. Eine Differenzierung nach klinischen Kriterien, insbesondere durch einen schichtenspezifischen Sitz, kann wegen einer auch möglichen primären dermalen Lokalisation des malignen fibrösen Histiocytoms nicht erfolgen. Ebenso bietet das histopathologische Bild beider Affektionen kaum sichere Unterscheidungsmerkmale. Die Tumoren kennzeichnet im wesentlichen ein cellulärer Dimorphismus, der einerseits aus spindeligen fibroblastenähnlichen und andererseits aus histiocytenähnlichen Zellelementen besteht. Durch zusätzliche morphologische Parameter (“pattern analysis”) wie unscharfe Begrenzung, asymmetrisches und tiefes infiltratives Wachstum, Ulceration und Nekrose werden beim von uns beobachteten Tumor Kriterien der Malignität offensichtlich und weisen ihn als malignes fibröses Histiocytom aus. Es wird vorgeschlagen, diese Bezeichnung für das metastasierende atypische Fibroxanthom zu verwenden. Mit dieser Trennung behält der Begriff “atypisches Fibroxanthom” seine Bedeutung als überwiegend doch eher gutartiger Tumor.
Die histomorphologische Variationsbreite fibro-histiocytärer Proliferationen hat je nach Ausprägung der cytologischen Strukturelemente ein breites Spektrum von Differentialdiagnosen zur Folge. Zu berücksichtigen sind bei Überwiegen der fibromatösen spindelzelligen Komponente das “semimaligne” Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, das cytologisch ebenso monomorphe Fibrosarkom mit “fischzugartig” angeordneten Tumorzellen und das spindelzellig differenzierte Kaposi-Sarkom, welches durch seinen angiomatösen Charakter unterscheidbar ist. Das Spindelzellcarcinom, ein besonders unreifes Plattenepithelcarcinom, imitiert sarkomähnliche Strukturen, kann aber wie das spindelzellige maligne Melanom durch Betrachtung der dermo-epidermalen Junktionszone vom atypischen Fibroxanthom abgegrenzt werden. Bei unreifen Liposarkomen und beim malignen Riesenzelltumor der Weichteile ermöglichen spezifische Zellelemente histogenetische Rückschlüsse.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literatur
Ackerman AB (1980) Criteria for predicting biologic behavior from histologic patterns. 7th Dermatopathology Symposium New York, October 16–19
Auböck L (1975) Zur Ultrastruktur fibröser und histiocytärer Hauttumoren (Dermatofibrom, Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Fibroxanthom und Histiocytom). Virchows Arch [Pathol Anat] 368:253–273
Bourne RG (1963) Paradoxical fibrosarcoma of skin (pseudosarcoma): A review of 13 cases. Med J Aust 1:504–510
Dahl I (1976) Atypical fibroxanthoma of the skin. A clinicopathological study. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 84:183–197
Enzinger FM (1979) Questions to the editorial board. Am J Dermatol I/2:185
Evans HL, Smith JL (1980) Spindle cell squamous carcinomas and sarcoma-like tumors of the skin. A comparative study of 38 cases. Cancer 45:2687–2697
Fretzin DF, Helwig EB (1973) Atypical fibroxanthoma of the skin. A clinicopathology study of 140 cases. Cancer 31:1541–1552
Fritsch P, Schellander F (1970) Zum Problem der Malignität histiocytärer Tumoren (“Fibrous Xanthomas”). Hautarzt 21:107–114
Fu YS, Gabbiani G, Kaye GI, Lattes R (1975) Malignant soft tissue tumors of probable histiocytic origin (malignant fibrous histiocytomas). General considerations and electron microscopic and tissue culture studies. Cancer 35:176–198
Gieseking R (1972) Ultramorphologie. Arch Dermatol Forsch 244:124–138
Gordon HW (1964) Pseudosarcomatous reticulohistiocytoma. A report of four cases. Arch Dermatol 90:319–325
Headington JT, Niederhuber JE, Repola DA (1978) Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of skin. J Cutan Pathol 5:329–338
Helwig EB (1963) Atypical fibroxanthoma. Tex St J Med 59:664–667
Hoede N, Korting GW, (1968) Pseudosarkomatöses Xanthofibrom. Arch Klin Exp Dermatol 232:119–126
Hudson AW, winkelmann RK (1972) Atypical fibroxanthoma of the skin. A reappraisal of 19 cases in which the original diagnosis was spindle-cell squamous carcinoma. Cancer 29:413–422
Jacobs DS, Edwards WD, Ye RC (1975) Metastatic atypical fibroxanthoma of skin. Cancer 35:457–463
Kemp JD, Stenn KS, Arons M, Fischer J (1978) Metastasizing atypical fibroxanthoma. Coexistence with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Arch Dermatol 114:1533–1535
Kerl H (1981) Sarkome der Haut. In: Korting GW (Hrsg) Dermatologie in Praxis und Klinik, Bd IV. Thieme, Stuttgart New York, pp 41118–41145
Kerl H, Kresbach H (1979) Lymphoretikuläre Hyperplasien und Neoplasien der Haut. In: Doerr W, Seifert G, Uehlinger E (Hrsg), Spezielle pathologische Anatomie, Bd VII/2 2. Aufl. (red. von Schnyder UW) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 351–480
Kyriakos M, Kempson RL (1976) Inflammatory fibrous histiocytoma. Cancer 37:1584–1606
Lattes R (1976) Pseudosarcomatous lesions of skin and superficial tissues. Atypical fibroxanthoma. In: Adrade R, Gumport St L, Popkin GL, Rees Th D (eds) Cancer of the skin. Saunders, Philadelphia, London Toronto, pp 1080–1082
Levan NE, Hirsch P, Kwong M (1963) Pseudosarcomatous dermatofibroma. Arch Dermatol (Chic) 88:908–912
Lund HZ, Kraus JM (1962) Melanotic tumors of the skin. In: Atlas of tumor pathology, fasc III. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC, p 100
Merkow LP, Frich, JC, Slifkin M, Kyreages CG, Pardo M (1971) Ultrastructure of malignant fibroxanthoma). Cancer 28:372–383
O'Brien JE, Stout AP (1964) Malignant fibrous xanthomas. Cancer 17:1445–1455
Ozzello L, Stout AP, Murray MR (1963) Cultural characteristics of malignant histiocytomas and fibrous xanthomas. Cancer 16:331–344
Reed RJ (1976) New concepts in surgical pathology of the skin. In: Hartmann W, Kay S, Reed RJ (eds) Wiley series in surgical pathology. Wiley, New York London Sydney Toronto, pp 61–71
Schmoeckel Ch, Braun-Falco O, Burg G (1980) Das atypische Fibroxanthom. Hautarzt 31: 213–215
Soule EH, Enriquez P (1972) Atypical fibrous histiocytoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant histiocytoma and epitheloid sarcoma. A comparative study of 65 tumors. Cancer 30:128–142
Starink Th M, Hausman R, Van Delden L, Neering H (1977) Atypical fibroxanthoma of the skin. Presentation of 5 cases and a review of the literature. Br J Dermatol 97:167–177
Stout AP, Lattes R (1967) Tumors of the soft tissues. In: Firminger HI (ed) Atlas of tumor pathology, 2nd ser, fasc I. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC, pp 107–111
Taxy JB, Battifora HA (1977) Malignant fibrous histiocytoma. An electron microscopic study. Cancer 40:254–267
Vargas-Cortes F, Winkelmann RK, Soule EH (1973) Atypical fibroxanthomas of the skin-further observations with 19 additional cases. Mayo Clin Proc 48:211–218
Weedon D, Kerr JFR (1978) Atypical fibroxanthoma of skin. An electron microscope study. Pathology 7:173–177
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hödl, S. Metastasierendes atypisches fibroxanthom oder malignes fibröses histiocytom. Arch Dermatol Res 273, 25–35 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00509024
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00509024